Tekkenomics Vault: PS2 Fighting Game Face-Off #3

My Comments: Article #3 of 3 about comparing several 3D fighting games using several features that you might find in those games.

Later,
Wild Man X

Fighting Game Face-Off #3

In this article, I compare the PS2 version of Tekken 5 with other PS2 3D fighters
(King of Fighters: Maximum Impact, Mortal Kombat: Deception, and Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3)
in categories relating to gameplay and game modes.

Fighting Game
Face-Off #3

Tekken 5

King of Fighters:
Maximum Impact

Mortal Kobmat:
Deception

Dragon Ball Z
Budokai 3

Boxart

Publisher

Namco

SNK NeoGeo

Midway

Atari

U.S. Release Date

2/25/2005

10/12/2004

10/4/2004

10/16/2004

Console

PS2

PS2

PS2

PS2

Format

DVD-5

DVD-5

DVD-5

DVD-5

Playable Fighters

Start off with 20 fighters, but can unlock 10 for a total of 30 (not including palette swaps)

Start off with 19 fighters

Start off with 12 fighters, but can unlock 12 for a total of 24

Start off with 8 fighters, but can unlock 37 for a total of 45

Selectable Stages

16 total enclosed and infinite stages that vary in size

11 enclosed stages (with varying fighting locations) that are all about the same size

24 multi-tier levels

13 total unenclosed stages

Costumes

At least two costumes for every fighter (including palette swaps)

Two costumes for every fighter with an alternate color for each costume

Each fighter has a 1P and 2P costume that differ only in color, and one unlockable alternate costume

2 or 3 costumes for every fighter

Customization

Ability to customize the costumes with buyable items

None

None

Customize fighter abilities

Ending Movies

CG ending movie for every fighter

Same exact ending movie for every fighter

Ending movie for all fighters using pictures

In-game scenes from the cartoon show

Storyline

Yes, unique for each fighter

Yes, but same basic storyline for all fighters

Yes

Yes, unique for each fighter

Buttons

Left and right punch and kick

Regular and special punch and kick, provocation

4 different attack buttons, block, change fighting style, grab

Punch, kick, guard, energy attack

Match Replay

None

None

None

None

Personal Combo Saves

None

None

None

None

Fatalities

None

None

Two for every fighter

None

Profile / Stat Tracking

One profile per memory card to keep track of all unlockables, cash, customizations, and fighter rankings

None

Profile for each human player to keep track of cash and win/loss record

None

Mini-Game

Tekken: Devil Within

None

Chess Kombat, Puzzle Kombat

None

Weapons / Projectiles

Yoshimitsu’s sword, Raven’s knife, Devil Jin’s laser

Many different projectiles

One unique weapon for every fighter, and many projectiles

Many different projectiles

Ring Out

Not possible

Not possible

Possible on some stages

Possible on one stage

Conquest Mode

None

Attempt various missions

“Explore the MK universe”

Dragon Universe

Team Battle Mode

Up to 8 fighters

Exactly 3 fighters

None

None

Tag Battle Mode

None

None

Only one team have the ability to tag

Certain fighters have an ability to tag an opponent if a certain ability is equipped

Theater Mode

View unlocked movies, and listen to Back Ground Music (BGM)

View unlocked character profiles, change to “Rigging” model

View movies, images, and other unlocked items

Voice data story reenactment

Other Unlockables

Arcade version of Starblade

None

Many unlockables, such as artwork, comic book pages, photos, and many other things